Why Healthcare Sunday?

There are over one million people employed by the NHS. Within the nursing and residential home sector there will many thousands of others. Every church is likely to have numbers of members who work in Health Care. By the very nature of the jobs they do, they may often have to work unsocial hours and be away from church on Sunday. Often the work is demanding and the rate of pay for those at the lower end of the scale, very low.

Increased politicisation of the Health Service has reduced morale among many and this, together with long hours, low pay and little acknowledgment has caused many to become very uncertain about continuing in their work. Yet, they often care for the most needy and vulnerable in our society.

Healthcare Sunday is an opportunity to focus on, and pray for and encourage these members of our Churches. The caring work they do is very close to God’s heart. Jesus always had special concern for the vulnerable and needy.

It is also an opportunity to acknowledge and pray for the many Christians within Healthcare who have leadership responsibility and have the very difficult task of making decisions about the application of limited resources, helping to steer an ethical course among many differing demands and seeking to maintain the highest integrity in the care of each individual in need.

Healthcare Sunday is an opportunity to focus prayer and concern out beyond our church communities into a specific area of need in the hurting world that surrounds us

Since 1992, Healthcare Sunday is celebrated around the world (e.g. South Africa now invite over 5,000 churches to mark Healthcare Sunday). In 2008, the Sunday nearest St Luke's Day (18th October) is October 19th, however this is flexible as it may be necessary to choose another date to fit in with your Church's programme.